By Mohammed Bello Doka
The Minister for Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, finds himself under the watchful eye of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, accused of having links to a N438 million scandal involving the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. Tunji-Ojo vehemently denies his alleged involvement as a signatory in the company implicated in the contract allegations tied to the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu.
A leaked memo circulating online reveals that a company allegedly owned by Tunji-Ojo received N438 million designated as 'consultancy fees' from Edu. In response to the accusations, Tunji-Ojo, in an interview on Channels TV, refutes the claims, stating, "I am not a signatory to the company. About five years ago, I had resigned from my directorship."
Appointed as the Minister of Interior by President Bola Tinubu in 2023, Tunji-Ojo had gained recognition as the 'starboy' of the Tinubu-led administration due to his notable achievements within six months, such as clearing passport backlogs and introducing a platform for passport renewal from home.
Despite his recent accomplishments, Tunji-Ojo's alleged affiliation with the N438 million scandal has cast a shadow over his previous achievements, tarnishing his record, which garnered awards in 2023. Unbeknownst to many Nigerians, Tunji-Ojo was the former chairman of the House of Representatives committee on Niger Delta Development Commission, known for a televised probe where he clashed with the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, over corruption and fund mismanagement allegations in the commission.
During the probe, Akpabio accused Tunji-Ojo and other National Assembly members of benefiting from NDDC contracts, prompting Tunji-Ojo to challenge Akpabio to provide evidence, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing controversy surrounding the embattled Minister for Interior.
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